A good night’s sleep is becoming a rare treasure. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), about one in three adults in the United States doesn’t get enough sleep, and an estimated 50 to 70 million Americans have chronic sleep disorders.
Many people struggling to get enough sleep turn to nutritional supplements for help. Common sleep supplements are melatonin, valerian, and the currently trending ashwagandha, a plant used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine, an ancient Indian system of healthcare.
While these and other supplements might help you get more sleep, there are a few things you need to know before trying them.
Ashwagandha and Sleep
According to the Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS), a part of the National Institutes of Health, some studies have shown that ashwagandha can reduce anxiety and stress, which might account for the small benefit it has shown as a sleep aid.
